The US government plans to deport 3,690 Nigerians amid a broader immigration crackdown, with ICE enforcing final removal orders since November 2024

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he United States government has identified 3,690 Nigerians for deportation as part of its ongoing immigration enforcement efforts.

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The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that these individuals are among the 1.4 million undocumented migrants with final deportation orders.

A report by Fox News, based on an ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) document, revealed that these Nigerians have been listed on ICE’s non-detained docket since 24 November 2024.

This category includes individuals ordered to leave the US but not currently in ICE custody.

Rising Numbers of Deportees

According to ICE, more than seven million individuals are currently on the non-detained docket, while those held in federal, state, or local jails are placed on the detained docket.

Among African nations, Nigeria has the second-highest number of citizens scheduled for deportation, following Somalia, which has 4,090. Ghana ranks third.

On a global scale, Mexico leads with 252,044 individuals facing deportation, followed by Guatemala (253,413), Honduras (261,651), and El Salvador (203,822).

Other affected countries include China (37,908), Haiti (32,363), Iran (2,618), Pakistan (776), Uzbekistan (975), and Venezuela (22,749).

Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

Former President Donald Trump has renewed his push for mass deportations, fulfilling his campaign promise to execute “the largest deportation in American history.”

Since returning to office, his administration has arrested over 3,500 undocumented migrants across the US. Deportation flights have already begun, with US military aircraft transporting migrants to their home countries.

This move has sparked criticism from Democrats and human rights groups, who argue that the deportation process violates due process and international human rights standards.

Some foreign governments have also opposed the operation. Colombia initially refused to accept some deported citizens, accusing US authorities of treating them like criminals by placing them in handcuffs and transporting them on military planes.

However, after facing tariff threats from President Trump, Colombia reversed its stance.

Foreign Governments Urged to Cooperate

The ICE document emphasised that the US government expects every country to accept the return of its citizens who are ineligible to remain in the US.

It urged foreign governments to verify the citizenship of deportees, issue travel documents promptly, and facilitate their return via commercial or charter flights.

Estimates from the Pew Research Center indicate that approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants live in the United States.